Gateway: From PC powerhouse to buyout bargain
 

*Source: News.com (http://news.com.com/Gateway+From+PC+...ag=nefd.lede)*
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Taiwan is a long way from Iowa.

But not as long as the distance that Gateway--the farm-raised, direct-sales PC company that grew into a major force in the U.S. computer industry--has traveled over the past two decades.

When Acer agreed Monday to purchase the American PC maker, it wasn't shocking, since more than a few pundits would say Gateway's acquisition has been several years overdue. But at a $710 million purchase price, it's a comedown for a company that in 1997 was offered $7 billion to become part of Compaq (which was eventually acquired by Hewlett-Packard (http://news.com.com/Big+iron+HP+to+b...-272520.html)).

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